1. Basic expressions

1.1 The introduction

From the line graph it is clear that the majority of the UK supermarkets saw sales grow over the ten year period.

Explain the general idea of the graph (again!) but with a little more detail.

Overall it is clear that Tesco and Sainsbury’s increased sales the most, followed by Asda and Morrision’s, the Co-op undoubtedly performed the worst.

1.2 Detail expressions

Identify the information and group it.

1.3 Describing trends

For instance,

Unemployment levels fellThere was a fall in unemployment levels

More examples:

The investment levels rose suddenly.The sales of our products fell slightly in the final quarter.The Research and Development budget has stabilized over the past few years.At the end of the first year, sales stood at 50 per cent of the present level.The price reached a peak before falling a little and then maintaining the same level.There has been a steady increase in costs over several years.The sudden collapse in share prices came shortly after June.The value of the shares has shown a steady decline.

1.4 The degree

1.4.1 The degree of change

1.4.2 The speed of change

1.4.3 Approximation

just under well under roughly approximatelyabout just over well over nearly

1.4.4 Rise

1.4.5 Fall

1.5 A variety of structures

1.5.1 Active to passive

There was an incredible decrease in outputOutput decreased incredibly

In 2010 there was a plunge in turnoverTurnover plunged in 2010

After the crisis there was a crash in profitProfit crashed after the crisis

Last year there were two rises in annual incomeAnnual income rose twice last year

1.5.2 Adverbs

It is clear the trend is downward…Clearly the trend is downward…

It is evident that sales dropped in the first quarter…Evidently sales in the first quarter dropped ..

1.6 Time expressions

over a five year periodThroughout the 1980s sales were climbing consistently The period from 1944 to 1999 witnessed a spectacular growth / explosive growthIn July, sales failed. And from that time on they continued to fall until May.

2.1 Sample answers

The graph shows the number of cases of X disease in Someland between the years 1960 and 1995. As an overall trend, it is clear that the number of cases of the disease increased fairly rapidly until the mid seventies, remained constant for around a decade at 500 cases before dropping to zero in the late 80s.

In 1960, the number of cases stood at approximately 100. That number rose steadily to 200 by 1969 and then more sharply to 500 in 1977. At this point the number of cases remained stable until 1984 before plummeting to zero by 1988. From 1988 to 1995 Someland was free of the disease.

In conclusion (Overall will be better?), the graph shows that the disease was increasingly prevalent until the 1980s when it was eradicated from Someland.